San Francisco’s Hotel Zetta is Not Your Grandpop’s Hotel

Apr 25, 2017 07:12PM
● Published by Fran Miller

BY FRAN ENDICOTT MILLER

If charisma is defined as possessing compelling attractiveness or
charm that inspires devotion in others, can a hotel be labeled charismatic?
In the case of San Francisco’s Hotel Zetta, the answer is a resounding yes. This
creative hot spot located adjacent to the Westfield Shopping Center and just
steps from the city’s bustling SoMa district is both attractive and charming –
and like most Viceroy hotels, engenders a loyal following. From the rock-star photo and classic album adorned walls, to the wine bottle-lined lobby bar, a peek
into the hip and chic interior reveals that this is definitely not your
grandfather’s hotel.

Your first giveaway? The lobby’s front and center virtual
reality cube installation, designed by San Francisco’s Exit Realityteam, where
guests are invited to immerse themselves in a variety of out-of-this-world
experiences. Journey underwater, or into space for instance; a number
of hair-raising adventures are at the ready. The custom-outfitted VR space
resembles an Airstream of tomorrow and allows street passersby to witness your
passage into an alternate reality. Your
next clue? The second-floor Playroom, where old and new game
favorites provoke creative inspiration. This unique space for “work hard, play
hard” tech-savvy types features a pool table (there’s also one in the main
lobby), table shuffle board, and a giant 30 ft. Plinko game wall played with
soccer balls. Unwind on the plush low-seated sofas as you challenge an opponent
to a game of Uno or Connect Four. A Nintendo WiiU console features more than 50
games.

One Hotel Zetta aspect of which Grandpop would surely
approve is the S&R Lounge (short for 'salvage and rescue'), the hotel’s
central gathering space created in the tradition of a Manhattan lobby bar.
(Think the Ace, or Bowery, where New Yorkers mingle, meet, plug-in, and quaff.)
Craft cocktails, wines and beers, as well as delectables from neighboring
restaurant The Cavalier can be enjoyed from 4pm until 11pm. This upscale
British brasserie is the hotel’s room service purveyor, and its cozy adjacent locale is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Cavalier celebrates British
classics with their own fresh and luxe take on dishes like fish ‘n chips, and
meat pies.

For those travelers who try to
maintain their wellness and fitness routines while on the road, Hotel Zetta’s
got you covered. A partnership with Well + Away (publisher
of the first healthy-hip guidebook series) provides for healthy guest rooms, a
property-wide VitalBar minibar program, and a wellness event series. The
hotel's workout room, featuring the Technogym Fitness Center, offers the latest
in fitness technology. Additionally, guests may enjoy exclusive discounted day
and week passes to Fitness SF –
one of the Bay Area’s top fitness facilities.

At the end of the day, a hotel is all
about the comfort of its rooms, and each of Hotel Zetta’s four room types
ensures a sound sleep. Each offers high-tech conveniences,
customizable in-room workspaces, and amenities including down comforters,
imported linens, high-speed Internet access, Illy espresso machines, deluxe
sizes of top shelf spirits, Jawbone Big JamBox, a G-Link station for mobile
devices and wireless streaming onto smart TVs. Choose from Superior, Deluxe, Premier Studio King, and Well + Away Pure Rooms.

Hotel Zetta is part of the Viceroy’s San Francisco ‘Z’
collection of hotels (others are Hotel
Zeppelin and Hotel Zelos), each of which wows with personality plus and
focuses on fun common areas. Granddad might be a bit stymied at first with the hotel
collection’s quirky additions, but with time, and a quick game of pool, or a
venture with VR, he too will “get” the Z factor.